For a long time, the Kode was the all-round board in the Starboard range and was available in various price categories. Like other brands, Starboard has thinned out the variety of models (sizes/constructions) somewhat, and in 2026 the Kode will only be available in one construction - in the finest carbon construction, full-surface on the underside, 60 per cent on deck, laminated as a high-quality PVC sandwich.
If you didn't know that this was a freemoveboard, you could also categorise the Starboard Kode as a large waveboard based solely on the shape characteristics. The tail is adorned with a swallow tail, the nose is tapered and pulled upwards. The volume of the board is concentrated in the centre of the board, which results in a comparatively thick board in the centre line with a clearly rounded deck, on which the front straps meet in the centre of the board in a triple set-up. A full eight millimetres of rocker at the tail and a straight planing surface under the straps, which measures just over a hand's width, could have come straight from the wave workshop. The box of the centre fin is installed far forward in the board, while the foot straps are particularly close to the tail and therefore directly above the fin, which sticks straight out of the board like a small slalom fin. A thruster set would probably suit the overall characteristics of the board even better. The planing surface is mono-concave at the front, V-shaped at the back and double concave throughout.
Lively board feeling without limits
The fiery red playmobile looks more lively than any other board in the group. Freeride feeling? No way! You have to balance noticeably more on the domed deck than on Patrik's or JP's flat flounders, and nimble feet are required when turning. In very light planing winds, the board needs a little help to get up to speed, dropping a little and a few pumping strokes can't hurt. Then it glides lively, fidgety, reactive - no matter what you call it, it's a board for surfers who are looking for a super lively board feeling that's great for hooks. The fin sets no limits for really tight turns: snappy jibes and 360s can be done playfully and with little pressure.
Wide jibes, on the other hand, require a lot of tip-toe feeling, otherwise the board will run wherever it wants to, like an excited young dog. In the chop, it's best to use every second wave for a relaxed jump. The board does this easily and playfully, and it's much more fun than mindlessly banging into choppy waves, as the damping is more on a sports car level. Beginners are less well advised to use the Kode than experienced surfers, because although classic power jibes can be varied well, advanced riding skills and sensitivity are required to glide through them.
Surf summary of the Starboard Kode 115
The Starboard Kode conveys 115 litres of pure wave feeling, the board is visually very attractively finished and should appeal above all to committed manoeuvre surfers who want to jump, turn tightly and waggle light-footedly in moderate waves in light winds.
Extremely manoeuvrable; jumping, wave use
Fin box for single fin far forward
Suitable for intermediates
Technical data Starboard Kode 115
- Weight: 7.3 kg*
- Price: 2799 Euro
- Info under star-board.com
*surf measurement
Starboard Kode: Available sizes and data
| Volume | Width | Length | Weight** | Finn*** |
| 85 | 60 | 226 | 6,5 | 20+2x11 |
| 95 | 62 | 228 | 6,6 | 21+2x11 |
| 105 | 65 | 229 | 6,9 | 22+2x11 |
| 115 | 67,5 | 230 | 7,1 | 34 |
| 125 | 69,5 | 231 | 7,7 | 36 |
| 135 | 72 | 232 | 8 | 38 |
| 145 | 77 | 233 | 8,3 | 40 |
**Manufacturer's specification, ***Centre fin: Powerbox (only 85 litres: US box), Side fins: Starbox
This board is part of the big Freemove Test 2026, which also includes Goya One, JP-Australia Freestyle Wave and Magic Move, Patrik F-Cross, Severne Dyno, Starboard Kode, Tabou 3S+ and We One We Freewave. Further test articles from this group appear regularly on surf-magazin.de and in surf 3/2026 from 14 April.
